Join us September 9th for The Collected Workshop & Sew Along
Gather what you love. Make something only you could make.
This fall, join us for The Collected Workshop & Sew Along, an invitation to gather favorite fabrics, interesting little bits, and things you've been saving, then bring them together into something entirely your own.
Inspired by the tradition of crazy quilting, we'll learn an approachable way to create Collected Patchwork, then add hand stitching and other details as the project develops.
Registration is open through September 8, 2026. The Sew Along begins September 9, 2026.
It Started With a Quilt
The idea for Collected began with an extraordinary crazy quilt started around 1880 by the grandmother of my friend Jinny.
As the story goes, the man who would become her husband brought her small pieces of fabric over time. Those pieces slowly found their way into the quilt, along with ribbons and beautiful hand stitching. Nearly 150 years later, the quilt is still amazingly well preserved.
The more time I've spent with it, the more interested I've become in how all of these different pieces came together. As I've researched the history of crazy quilting, I've realized that what interests me most isn't reproducing a Victorian quilt.
It's the collecting.
The quilt grew from pieces gathered over time, then became something much more personal through the way they were brought together.
This is the idea behind The Collected Workshop.
A celebration of gathering, stitching, and the things we choose to keep.
Look Closely
One of the things I love about this kind of work is that there is always more to see.
A Collected project can be thought of a little like a fabric-based cabinet of curiosities. Different pieces are brought together because they interest us, and each part gives you something new to notice.
Some pieces might carry a memory or come from a past project. Others might simply be a color, print, or texture you love.
There is no requirement for everything to have a story.
Collected is an opportunity to gather what you love and make something meaningful.
What Will You Make?
The workshop teaches you how to make Collected Patchwork. What you do with it from there is up to you.
You certainly could keep going and make a larger quilt, but you don't need to make something large to really explore this way of working.
We'll share tutorials for turning smaller pieces of Collected Patchwork into several finished projects, including a mini quilt, pillow, holiday stocking, bag, and a special project for displaying your Sew Along patches and charms.
Or, take what you learn and make something completely different.
The fabrics we choose and the details we decide to add make each project distinct.
What's Inside The Collected Workshop?
We'll start with our gathered fabrics and learn how to build the base that becomes our Collected Patchwork. From there, we'll move into the hand stitching, with instruction for the fancy stitches and ideas for adding other details to your project.
We'll share written guides and video instruction throughout the workshop, along with tutorials for turning your patchwork into several different finished projects. We'll also share additional inspiration throughout the workshop, with ideas and resources to help you explore this way of making further.
There is a method to get you started and plenty of instruction along the way, with lots of room to make your own choices as your project develops.
Make With What You Have
You absolutely do not need special fabrics or supplies to participate in Collected.
I hope you'll start by looking through what you already have and noticing what you're drawn to. Favorite fabrics and scraps you've kept simply because they are too good to get rid of, ribbon, lace, charms, whatever bits you dream up, can all find a place here.
If you'd like to add to your collection, we've also gathered some optional materials that are especially fun for this kind of project.
Let's Create Together
The community part of The Collected Sew Along will take place in AG Stitch Club, our online space for Sew Alongs and other events.
We'll work through the workshop together and have a dedicated Collected space where participants can share what they're making and help each other along the way.
Your $27 registration includes the complete workshop, the Sew Along, weekly email newsletters throughout the event, and a surprise Collected patch and charm.
Every participant receives both the patch and charm. The designs are a surprise.
If you enjoy waiting until you've finished to open your charm, you can save it for later. If you'd rather open it right away, that is completely fine too.
The Collected Workshop Schedule
The Collected Workshop is a four-part workshop, with a new section released by email each week for four weeks.
WEEK 1 · Gathering Materials + Inspiration
We'll begin by getting inspired, gathering fabrics and other materials, choosing a palette, and joining the Collected Sew Along community. By the end of the week, you'll be ready to start sewing your patchwork.
WEEK 2 · Creating Your Collected Patchwork Base
We'll start sewing! You'll learn five different ways to build your Collected Patchwork base. Choose the method that works best for your project or combine several as you go.
WEEK 3 · Adding Fancy Stitches
Once the base is together, we'll move into hand stitching, with instruction and ideas for adding fancy stitches, embroidery, and other details.
WEEK 4 · Finishing Your Collected Project
We'll share several ways to turn your Collected Patchwork into a finished project, or you can use what you've learned to make something entirely your own.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE & PROJECTS
This is our content release schedule, and if you enjoy having a little push to keep moving, you can follow right along with us. As always, we're going for low stress, so you're equally welcome to work at your own pace.
Workshop sections are released over four weeks, with Collected newsletters continuing for six weeks. After that, our finisher form will open, and the Collected Sew Along space will remain open through the holidays and into January so there is plenty of time to keep stitching and share what you've made. We'll let everyone know before the community space closes in mid-January 2027.
We're intentionally showing several smaller project ideas because hand stitching takes time, but most of our samples were made in about a week. How quickly or slowly you work is completely up to you.
Ready to Join Us?
Registration open through September 8, 2026
Sew Along begins September 9, 2026
AG Bee members: Collected is included with your membership. Look for signup details in your Bee Newsletter or in the Announcements space of The AG Be